English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
Choose your level
All 27,237 words
214 words
course
A1
/kɔɹs/
A series of lessons or classes on a particular subject.
school
A1
/skul/
A place where children go to be taught.
learn
A1
/lɝn/
To gain knowledge or a skill, especially by studying or practising.
college
A1
/ˈkɒlɪd͡ʒ/
A place where students study after secondary school, often to earn a degree.
teacher
A1
/ˈti.t͡ʃɚ/
A person whose job is to teach, especially in a school.
teach
A1
/tiːt͡ʃ/
To help someone learn something by giving them lessons or information.
professor
B1
/pɹəˈfɛs.ɚ/
A teacher at a college or university.
final
A2
/ˈfaɪn(ə)l/
Coming last; happening at the end.
study
A1
/ˈstʌd.i/
To spend time learning about a subject, often at school or college.
student
A1
/ˈstjuː.dn̩t/
A person who is studying at a school, college, or university.
training
A2
/ˈtɹeɪnɪŋ/
The process of teaching or learning the skills needed to do a job or activity.
command
B1
/kəˈmænd/
An order telling someone to do something.
lesson
A1
/ˈlɛs.ən/
A period of time in which a teacher teaches a subject or skill to students.
subject
A1
/ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɛkt/
The thing being talked or written about.
university
A2
/ˌjunəˈvərsədi/
A place of higher education where students study for degrees and do research.
knowledge
A2
/ˈnɒlɪd͡ʒ/
Information, facts, and understanding that you gain through learning or experience.
senior
A2
/ˈsinjɚ/
Higher in rank, position, or importance than others.
learning
A2
/ˈlɝnɪŋ/
The process of gaining knowledge or skills.
education
A2
/ˌɛd͡ʒ.ʊˈkeɪ.ʃn̩/
The process of teaching or learning, especially at a school or university.
library
A1
/ˈlaɪˌbɹɛɹ.i/
A place where books and other materials are kept for people to read or borrow.
homework
A1
/ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/
Work that a teacher gives students to do at home.
degree
A2
/dɪˈɡɹiː/
A unit for measuring temperature.
exam
A2
/ɪɡˈzæm/
A formal test of knowledge or skill, especially in school.
investigate
B1
/ɪnˈvɛs.tə.ɡeɪt/
To carefully examine something in order to find out the facts or the truth.
academy
B1
/əˈkad.ə.mɪ/
a school or college, especially one that teaches a particular subject or skill
drill
A2
/dɹɪl/
To make a hole using a drill or other pointed tool.
advanced
A2
/ədˈvænst/
At a higher level of skill, knowledge, or training.
method
A2
/ˈmɛθəd/
A particular way of doing something, especially a planned or organized one.
lecture
B1
/ˈlek.t͡ʃəː/
A talk that teaches something, usually given to a class or audience.
campus
A2
/ˈkæmpəs/
The grounds and buildings of a university, college, or school.
graduate
A2
/ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuət/
To complete your studies and receive a degree from a university or college.
institute
B1
/ˈɪnstɪtjuːt/
An organization set up for a particular purpose, especially research, education, or a profession.
technical
B1
/ˈtɛt.nɪ.kəl/
Relating to a particular subject and needing special knowledge to be understood.
educated
B1
/ˈɛd͡ʒəkeɪtɪd/
Having received a good education and a lot of knowledge.
literature
B1
/ˈlɪt.ɚ.ə.t͡ʃɚ/
Written works such as novels, poems, and plays valued as art.
scholarship
B1
/ˈskɑːləɹʃɪp/
Money given to a student to help pay for their education, usually for good work.
ignorant
B2
/ˈɪɡnəɹənt/
Not knowing about a particular fact or situation.
detention
C1
/dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/
The act of officially holding someone in custody, usually for a short time.
classroom
A1
/ˈklæsruːm/
A room in a school where lessons take place.
unlock
B2
/ʌnˈlɑk/
To open something that is locked, usually with a key or code.
inquiry
B1
/ɪnˈkwaɪ(ə)ɹi/
A question or request for information.
semester
A2
/sɪˈmɛstɚ/
one of the two main periods that a school or university year is divided into
dorm
B2
/dɔɹm/
A building at a college or university where students live; short for "dormitory".
tutor
B2
/ˈtjuːtəː/
A person who teaches one student or a small group, often privately.
ignorance
B2
/ˈɪɡ.nɚ.əns/
A lack of knowledge or information about something.
informant
C2
/ɪnˈfɔɹmənt/
A person who secretly gives information, especially to the police.
scholar
B1
/ˈskɑlɚ/
A person who studies a subject deeply and knows a lot about it.
academic
B1
/əˈkæɖ.ə.mɪk/
relating to education, schools, and study
freshman
B1
/ˈfɹɛʃ.mən/
A student in their first year at a high school, college, or university.
pharmacy
B1
/ˈfɑɹməsi/
A shop where medicines are prepared and sold.
secondary
B1
/ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi/
less important than the main thing
skilled
B2
/skɪld/
good at doing something because of training or experience
pupil
B2
/ˈpjuːpəl/
A child or young person who is being taught at school.
electronics
B2
/ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɑ.nɪks/
Devices that run on electric power, such as phones, computers, and televisions.
faculty
B2
/ˈfækəlti/
All the teachers and academic staff at a school or university.
tuition
B2
/tjʉːˈɪʃən/
The money you pay for being taught, especially at a college or university.
seminar
B2
/ˈsɛmɪnɑɹ/
A small class in which students and a teacher meet to discuss a topic in depth.
educational
A2
/ˌɛd͡ʒəˈkeɪʃənəl/
Relating to education or teaching.
transcript
B2
/[ˈtʃɹʷænskɹʷɪp̚t]/
A written copy of words that were spoken, such as in an interview or trial.
classmate
A1
/ˈklæs.meɪt/
A person who is in the same class at school as you.
diploma
B2
/dɪˈploʊmə/
An official document showing that you have completed a course of study or earned a qualification.
viva
C2
/ˈvaɪvə/
chiefly British: an oral examination, especially one for an academic degree
upgrade
B2
/ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd/
To improve something by replacing it with a better or newer version.
exploration
B1
/ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/
The act of travelling through an unfamiliar area to learn about it.
textbook
A2
/ˈtekst.bʊk/
A book used to study a subject at school or college.
disciplinary
C1
/ˈdɪs.ə.pləˌnɛɹi/
relating to a specific field of academic study
proctor
C2
/ˈprɑːk.tɚ/
especially in the US, a person who supervises an examination to prevent cheating
instruct
B2
/ɪnˈstɹakt/
To officially tell someone what they should do.
devious
C2
/ˈdiː.vi.əs/
deviating from a straight course
philosophical
B2
/ˌfɪl.əˈsɑ.fɪ.kl̩/
Relating to philosophy or the study of ideas about life and knowledge.
astronomy
B2
/əˈstɹɑn.ə.mi/
The scientific study of the stars, planets, and the universe.
accomplishment
C1
/əˈkɑm.plɪʃ.mənt/
Something impressive that you have achieved through effort.
inexperienced
B2
/ɪnəkˈspɪəɹi.ənst/
Lacking knowledge or skill because you have not done something much before.
schoolgirl
B2
/ˈskuːlɡɜː(ɹ)l/
A girl who goes to school.
dormitory
B2
/ˈdɔɹ.mɪˌtɔɹ.i/
A building at a college or university where students live.
nutrition
B1
/nuˈtɹɪʃ.ən/
The food a living thing needs to grow and stay healthy.
conservatory
C1
/kənˈsɝ.vəˌt(ɔ.)ɹi/
A room with glass walls and roof attached to a house, used for plants or relaxing.
acquisition
B2
/ˌæk.wɪˈzɪʃ.ən/
the act of getting or buying something
novice
B2
/ˈnɑvɪs/
a person who is new to and inexperienced in a field or activity
seminary
C1
/ˈsɛməˌnɛɹi/
an institution that trains candidates for the priesthood, ministry, or rabbinate
curriculum
B2
/kəˈɹɪk.jə.ləm/
The set of subjects and courses taught at a school, college, or university.
encyclopedia
B1
/ənˌsəɪ.kləˈpi.di.ə/
A reference work with articles on many subjects, usually arranged alphabetically
headmistress
C2
/ˈhɛdˌmɪstrəs/
A woman who is in charge of a school.
revise
B1
/ɹɪˈvaɪz/
To change or improve something, especially a piece of writing.
lecturer
B2
/ˈlekt͡ʃəɹə/
A person who gives lectures, especially as a teacher at a university or college.
hooky
B2
/ˈhʊki/
informal, especially in play hooky: unauthorized absence from school or work
stationery
C1
/ˈsteɪ.ʃəˌner.i/
writing and office materials such as paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, and notebooks
flunk
B1
/flʌŋk/
To fail an exam or class.
physiological
C2
/ˌfɪz.i.əˈlɑ.d͡ʒɪ.kəl/
Relating to how the body and its organs normally work.
mastery
B2
/ˈmæs.tɚ.i/
Great skill in or thorough knowledge of a subject or activity.
dictation
C2
/dɪkˈteɪʃən/
the act of speaking words for another person or a device to write or record
athletics
B2
/æθˈlɛtɪks/
Sports such as running, jumping, and throwing.
schoolwork
A2
/ˈskulˌwɝk/
Work that students do for school, both in class and as homework.
dissection
C1
/dɪˈsɛkʃən/
The act of cutting open a body to study its parts.
extracurricular
C2
/ˌɛkstɹəkəˈɹɪkjʊlə(ɹ)/
Outside the regular school or college curriculum.
awry
C2
/əˈɹɑɪ/
away from the correct or expected course